Middle America is taking charge of the box office, where David Ayers’ blue-collar drama A Working Man declares victory over Snow White with a projected $15.6 million opening after topping Friday’s chart with $5.6 million.
Snow White is looking at gross of $14 million to $15 million in its second weekend, a steep decline of 65 percent or more as the live-action update continues be dogged by poor word-of-mouth and controversial headlines over its star, Rachel Zegler.
However, Disney isn’t waving the white flag of defeat and says its movie could still pull ahead of Working Man as kids become more available on Saturday. Furthermore, Snow White continues to score best with girls and moms, for whom there isn’t much else to see on the big screen.
Working Man‘s victory comes at a symbolic juncture for Amazon MGM Studios, which late last week saw the surprise ouster of studio head Jennifer Salke as it embarks on an ambitious journey to become a major Hollywood studio with global distribution powers after acquiring rights to the James Bond franchise. Her exit came on the eve of CinemaCon, where Amazon MGM will present for the first time this coming week.
Ayers directed the well-reviewed Working Man from a script he wrote with Sylvester Stallone. The R-rated film, based on the novel Levon’s Trade by Chuck Dixon, also stars Jason Flemyng, Merab Ninidze, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, with Michael Peña and David Harbour.
The story follows a black ops vet (Statham) who left behind a decorated military career to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss’s daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.
Also opening this weekend is Fathom’s latest big-screen showing of The Chosen series. Grosses show The Chosen: The Last Supper — Season 5, Part One placing third with a better-than-expected $12.8 million.
Universal’s horror entry The Woman in the Yard is looking at a solid fourth-place finish with $9 million. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Danielle Deadwyler, the film revolves around a family who becomes rattled by a mysterious stranger who shows up at their isolated farm
A24’s horror pic Death of a Unicorn isn’t scaring notable business, and looks to come in fifth with an opening in the $5 million range. The horror pic stars Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd.
Numbers will be updated Sunday.
